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Next Match: 1st XV v Howe of Fife (a) on 7th March ko 3pm

U15/U16 lost opportunity in Glenrothes Friendly

Written by Patrick Hadoke

Monday, 04 March 2013

Kirkcaldy 24 vs Strathmore 36

With Waid having to forfeit the scheduled Caledonia Bowl match, the Kirkcaldy U15/ U16s played a hastily-arranged friendly against Strathmore. When these two sides met in the league Kirkcaldy were defeated 71-21, so the score line of today’s match is a considerable improvement. Despite this, the lads will see this as a lost opportunity for a win. In a very closely contested game, Kirkcaldy played some fine rugby but were let down by problems with discipline and focus.

The opening plays set much of the pattern for the game. Strathmore attacked strongly from the kick off but Kirkcaldy dug in and put together a series of strong scrums that forced the opposition back. The players contested well at the break down and the game remained evenly balanced for much of the opening 30 minutes. The home side opened the scoring when Ross capitalised on a loose ball to drive over and touch down. Feeling hard done by, Strathmore came back with style and threw the ball wide to touch down on the right hand side. It was at this point that the Kirkcaldy discipline started to struggle, with a clear detriment to their cohesion and focus. Strathmore exploited this well and scored two more tries before some positional changes, and the introduction of Jacob who restored order well, allowed the Blues to settle again and reduce the deficit with another fine score from Ross. This last followed a barnstorming break from Jacob, ably assisted by his brother Ben.

The second half saw some more good rugby, with the Kirkcaldy pack again giving a very good showing – Angus and Jacob were bossing it in the set piece and Mario (Ross) was having one of his best games of the year. The difference in this period was the Strathmore backs who took the ball well at pace and exploited the reluctance of the Kirkcaldy three-quarters to get up into their faces. Jacob cut the deficit when he took the feed from a penalty on the 10 metre line and scythed through the field to score by the posts. As the game moved to its close, Ryan added a fourth try, which he converted himself, with a determined drive off the back of the scrum.

There were some good passages of play in a closely contested match against a strong side. Once again Harry’s tackling, James’ work-rate and Ross determination stood out; and it was great to welcome Jacob back for an impressive cameo. The team needs to start believing it can win and to keep its focus on the rugby without allowing niggles and distractions to put us off our game. As the season nears its close we need to try to work to our own strengths and get the win that the lads deserve for their efforts over the season.